Siena (1399-1404) sanese d'oro Fr-1155
This specimen was lot 1699 in SINCONA Auction 97 (Zürich, May 2025), where it sold for 2,000 CHF (about US$2,901 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIEN Siena, Gian Galeazzo Visconti duca di Milano e signore di Siena, 1390-1404. Sanese d'oro o. J. (3. Emission), Siena. Selten. (Italy, republic of Siena, Gian Galeazzo Visconti, duke of Milan and lord of Siena, 1390-1404, undated gold sanese, third emission, Siena mint. Rare. NGC AU58.)"
This Sienese version of the Florentine florin was struck while Gian Galeazzo was briefly lord of Siena. Most of the legends are off the flan, so we can't tell if he is mentioned, but the Visconti arms are above the "S" on the obverse. The Sienese invited him as lord to help resist Florentine aggression but he was thrown out in 1404. Friedberg wrongly attributes this to 1375-90.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 3.52 g.
Catalog reference: MIR 511/2, Fr-1155.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- [1]Richter, Jurg, SINCONA Auction 97: World and Swiss Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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